The Dawson County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Nov. 20 to adopt the county's FY 2026 budget with amendments proposed by Commissioner Gaines and accepted by the board.

Commissioner Gaines moved to add personnel and capital changes that include three additional paramedic positions, modest shifts in sheriff's pay lines for frontline deputies, and a retained plan to pause a half‑time 911/EMA director posting; the motion also funded one replacement boiler and small program adjustments. "We put this forward with that desire that it's used to go towards addressing those concerns," Gaines said in explaining his amendments.

Chair responding to the motion explained he had left some items out of the original proposal because of data. "When you run the numbers on that, you wind up with 3.81 calls per 24‑hour shift per truck," he said, arguing the call statistics did not then justify immediately adding three full‑time paramedics and the associated $321,461.87. The board discussed staffing tradeoffs for fire/EMS, sheriff deputies and public works before taking a final vote.

The board-recorded amendments increased the General Fund (Category 100) from the chair's original $51,408,866 to $51,853,415 (an added $444,549 in the motion presented). Specific line items discussed during the hearing included a proposed $321,461.87 cost for three paramedics and related med‑unit staffing, a $300,000 increase in sheriff payroll for frontline deputies and jail staffing concerns, the potential removal of a half‑year 911 EMA director (savings of $59,388), an inmate medical increase of $35,000, and a reduction in transit funding of roughly $51,005.25 as noted by finance. The chair and finance staff noted a $1 rounding difference with the totals presented by the mover.

Public comment included appeals for more emergency staffing. A longtime emergency responder told the board the county's current staffing levels put lives at risk and urged the commissioners to prioritize public safety above strict reliance on call counts.

The motion to adopt the FY 2026 budget as amended was made by Commissioner Gaines, seconded by Commissioner Turquette, and approved by roll call (board recorded as unanimous). The board may now proceed with implementation steps identified in department budgets and with follow‑up from finance staff.

What happens next: the budget passed Nov. 20 takes effect for FY 2026 as the board directed; departments will proceed under the adopted appropriations and follow any implementation or reporting instructions from county finance and administration.